Pedestrian hit in North Strabane dies

North Strabane Township police investigate a pedestrian accident after a man was struck by a car while attempting to cross Route 19 Friday afternoon.
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A Canonsburg man who was struck by a vehicle Friday on Route 19 near the Route 519 cloverleaf in North Strabane Township died.

Daniel Kapis Jr., 64, was pronounced dead just before 5 p.m. at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, where he had been flown for treatment. A spokeswoman for the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office said the cause of death is pending an autopsy.

Township police Sgt. David Richards said Kapis apparently walked to the area from Canonsburg. Relatives told police he was staying at the Canon House on North Central Avenue.

Township police Officer Michael Lukanski said Kapis walked up the off-ramp from Route 19 southbound and ran across the two southbound lanes. He was on the center medial when he stepped out in front of the northbound vehicle driven by Francis Rhoades, 25, of Canonsburg. Rhoades was traveling in the left lane of Route 19. Kapis was on his way to a wedding at Chartiers Hill United Presbyterian Church when he was struck.

A witness who was driving in the right southbound lane saw Kapis standing on the median seconds before he was hit. She was driving slightly ahead of Rhoades’ car.

“She was looking in her mirror and saw him (Kapis) step directly in front of the car,” Lukanski said. “It was raining at the time. There was no indication the driver was going at a high rate of speed.”

“There was no evidence of the driver taking evasive action,” the officer added. “He didn’t have the chance.”

Lukanski does not anticipate filing charges against the driver. Rhoades was not injured in the crash but taken to Washington Hospital because he was so distressed.

Route 19 was closed in both directions for several hours for the investigation.